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HMP Nottingham

But the report, published today (Jul 16), said: “As the prison engaged significant numbers of new staff, the problem became less often of shortage (although that problem has still been evident in places) and more often the effects of inexperience (approximately 50 percent of its officers having less than a year’s experience)".

On the issue of drugs, it added: “Illegal drugs continue to infiltrate the prison by a variety of means, all of them contrary to prison law.

“They are a source of bullying and debt, of acute health issues and longer term health damage and disruption to the prisoner regime.

“The Board acknowledges the efforts of both the prison and the police in their attempts to curb the problem.

"There have been many instances during the year of prisoners requiring medical intervention as a result of using New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and some have required hospital treatment.”

Nottingham Prison

NPS is a term used to cover the formerly ‘legal highs’ such as Black Mamba and spice, and the report says that the tobacco ban has made the problem worse.

The report said: “While we have no direct evidence, prisoners do tell board members that the use of NPS has increased and its effects have been exacerbated due to the introduction of a smoking ban across the establishment in July 2017.

“It is unsurprising that prisoners tell us that they find the absence of tobacco frustrating.

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“Prisoners tell us that some have turned to NPS when they would have previously used tobacco and that the absence of tobacco makes abuse of NPS more dangerous as there is nothing to dilute the effects of the drugs.

“Over the summer period this was especially noticeable and the smell of drugs can often be detected around the wings.

“Where drug-testing was carried out, it showed a level of positive testing at nearly 33 percent when new psychoactive substances (NPS) were included.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “This inspection was carried out in February and significant improvements have been made since then.

“We have recruited over 3,000 prison officers in the last 18 months to improve safety, tackle drugs and help offenders turn their lives around – including at Nottingham.

“At the same time, Nottingham’s drug strategy is being strengthened, staff have been given more guidance on tackling drugs and the prison is putting in place four dedicated substance misuse officers.”